This week, win or lose, Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will have opportunities to interview for head coaching jobs. If they win, it won’t be their top priority.
According to a league source, Kingsbury could ultimately decline one or more of the interview requests. (You might even reject one or more if they lose.)
Kingsbury, who coached the Cardinals for four years, has no financial urgency to return to head coaching. His termination from the Cardinals extends through 2026, with mid-level head coaching compensation. This allows you to wait for the right spot to open up.
Waiting for the right spot to open up becomes even more important for coaches working on a second chance. And it’s easier to wait when the candidate is confident that the window will not close.
Given what the commanders have done in the first year of Dan Quinn’s tenure, there is every reason to think the window will remain open for Kingsbury. Beyond the rapid rise of quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders will have $100 million to work with in 2025. And now is the time to load up on veterans, as Daniels is two seasons away from being eligible for his second contract.
For now, the Bears and Saints have submitted interview requests for Kingsbury. The Jaguars could also get involved this week. At the end of the day, Kingsbury won’t be in a rush to leave. He will make money as a head coach through 2026 even if he is not a head coach. He can wait for the right time to become a head coach again.
And he could possibly do it after winning a Super Bowl ring with his current team.